A Father's Heart for His Son
This morning, I saw on the news that Dick Hoyt died last night. It has been a long time since I've logged on to this blog, but with tears in my eyes, I just had to get on here and put my thoughts and feelings down to capture them forever.
When I first started racing in triathlons and marathons, I discovered the duo known as "Team Hoyt", a father and son team that had a huge impact on the endurance sports community. Rick was born in 1962 and was diagnosed with a spastic cerebral palsy after his umbilical cord became twisted around his neck causing blockage of oxygen flow. Doctors told the Hoyts that their son would never be anything but a vegetable and encouraged them to institutionalize him. But the Hoyts believed there was something more to Rick and that his life mattered, so they found a doctor in Boston who believed in their son too and told them to treat him like any other child.
Rick's mom Judy spent hours every day reading to him and teaching him the alphabet. When he was 11 years old, his parents fitted him with a computer which enabled him to "talk" and they knew he was highly intelligent. In fact, with this computer, Rick was able to enroll in public school and excel. He even went on to graduate from college with a degree in special education!
In 1977, Rick told his dad he wanted to run a race for charity. Dick was 36 years old and not a runner. He practiced running with bags of cement in a wheelchair when Rick was at school. Following that first race, Rick said, "Dad when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped." And that was the beginning of many years of competition for the dad and son team. They raced in the Boston Marathon for decades. They raced many triathlons, including six Ironman races. For the swim portion, Dick pulled Rick in a boat with a bungee cord attached around his waist to the front on the boat. For the bike, Rick rode in a two-seater bicycle and then for the run, Dick pushed him along in his custom chair made for running.
Once Rick was asked if he could give his father any gift, what would it be and he replied, "The thing I'd most like is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once."
In 2006, when I ran the Boston Marathon, I knew Team Hoyt was out there running and although I didn't see them on the course, I remember feeling honored that I was getting to run in the same race as these two men who have inspired so many of us in running and triathlon. I remember thinking about them on the day I competed in Ironman Arizona. When I would get tired or felt like stopping, I would remind myself that Dick Hoyt did everything I was doing pulling or pushing along a grown man! That made my race seem easy.
But for me the thing that touches my heart the most about Dick Hoyt was that he demonstrated the love of a father. He made me think about God. And so many times I know that God as my Father has had to pull me through dark waters or push me along when my legs couldn't go any farther. He picks me up and gets me through my "race" of life. I could feel the love of Dick for Rick and he never ceased to remind me that a father's love for their child gives confidence, strength, joy and blessing. I miss Dick Hoyt already. I pray for comfort for Rick and all the family and friends he leaves behind. I am thankful to Team Hoyt for representing bravery, courage, the spirit of "can do all things", and for being a symbol of the Father heart of God. Rest in peace, Dick Hoyt!
